Language selection


Search veterans.gc.ca

Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Alexander Livingston

In memory of:

Able Seaman Alexander Livingston

September 26, 1942
South Atlantic

Military Service


Age:

34

Force:

Merchant Navy

Unit:

Canadian Merchant Navy

Division:

S.S. Lasalle (Mobile, Alabama) (220889)

Additional Information


Born:

March 21, 1908
Watertown, Massachusetts

Son of Hugh MacLeod and Bertha Esther Livingston of North Sydney, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Husband of Dorothy Louise Smith of North Mobile, Alabama. Father of Lois Katherine Livingston.

After leaving Cape Town, South Africa, on 26 September 1942, on 7 November the La Salle was sailing unescorted when she was torpedoed by U-159 about 350 miles (563 km) south-east of the Cape of Good Hope, South Africa. She sank after a very loud detonation, position 40°00'S/21°30'E. Debris injured three Germans. None of the 8 officers, 32 crew and 20 gunners survived.

Commemorated on Page 176 of the Merchant Navy Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information


Cemetery:

HALIFAX MEMORIAL
Nova Scotia, Canada

Grave Reference:

Panel 21.

Location:

The HALIFAX MEMORIAL in Nova Scotia's capital, erected in Point Pleasant Park, is one of the few tangible reminders of the men who died at sea. Twenty-four ships were lost by the Royal Canadian Navy in the Second World War and nearly 2,000 members of the RCN lost their lives. This Memorial was erected by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and was unveiled in November 1967 with naval ceremony by H.P. MacKeen, Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia, in the presence of R. Teillet, then Minister of Veterans Affairs. The monument is a great granite Cross of Sacrifice over 12 metres high, clearly visible to all ships approaching Halifax. The cross is mounted on a large podium bearing 23 bronze panels upon which are inscribed the names of over 3,000 Canadian men and women who were buried at sea. The dedicatory inscription, in French and English, reads as follows:

1914-1939
1918-1945
IN THE HONOUR OF
THE MEN AND WOMEN
OF THE NAVY
ARMY AND MERCHANT NAVY
OF CANADA
WHOSE NAMES
ARE INSCRIBED HERE
THEIR GRAVES ARE UNKNOWN
BUT THEIR MEMORY
SHALL ENDURE.

On June 19, 2003, the Government of Canada designated September 3rd of each year as a day to acknowledge the contribution of Merchant Navy Veterans.

Digital Collection

Send us your images

  • Photo of Alexander Livingston– Alexander Livingston, son of Bertha Livingston MacLeod of North Sydney NS, died when his ship was torpedoed in September 1942.

Learn more about the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

To learn more please visit our help page. If you have questions or comments regarding the information contained in this registry, email or call us. For inquiries regarding the names and information found in the RCMP Honour Roll, please email the RCMP.

Date modified: